Pinwheels are on the lawn of the historic Elmore County Courthouse to mark April as child abuse prevention month.
The toy is symbolic of the childlike whimsy and lighthearted world everyone hopes children grow up around in order to be happy and healthy. It is a toy several county leaders planted Friday to bring awareness to the issue of child abuse, many of home help fight the issue daily.
“It is our first step into the month and trying to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect,” Elmore County Department of Human Resources (DHR) director Michelle Wood said. “We do this every year to start the month. There are several events during the month that take place within the county that recognize child abuse prevention.”
Wood was joined by 19th Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Mandy Johnson, Children’s Trust Fund field director Tammy Marshall and Elmore County District Court Judge Ben Baxley to speak to children advocates such as the Elmore County Extension Agency, Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, Ivy’s Closest, Alabama Parent Education Center, Elmore County Family Resource Center, CASA of the River Region, Family Sunshine Center and the Elmore County Commission.
Wood said DHR investigated 438 reports of suspected abuse and neglect involving 605 children living in Elmore County in 2024. The agency also served an average of 29 families each month in 2024 in Elmore County in their own home through protective services. Elmore County also averaged 76 children in foster care in Elmore County in 2024.
Many of the agencies that work with DHR get involved after a report of child abuse. CASA has been helping children in Elmore County for three years.
Wood said the CASA volunteers help get more people involved in investigations of potential abuse.
“They are a second set of eyes for DHR,” Wood said. “We work in partnership with them. They are in full communication with DHR and caseworkers. When a CASA volunteer is appointed, they contact us and we immediately share information about the case.”
CASA volunteers operate independently of DHR and can bring a different perspective.Â
“We share information between the two agencies to make sure that we are seeing everything that is happening and are aware of what is happening in the household,” Wood said. “It is like a second person with a different view.”
Wood said she hopes Friday’s event and the pinwheels help bring awareness to the issue of child abuse and prevention.
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